Editor,

I fully support the Glendale shoreline access project proposed by Island County in partnership with the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

I understand that grant funding is necessary to complete the project.

The proposed acquisition is one of the few remaining opportunities on Whidbey Island to augment Whidbey’s scarce public beach access.

Oregon, California, Florida and Hawaii all benefit from miles of uninterrupted public beaches with intermittent public beach access. At statehood in 1889, Washington set aside very few beaches and tidelands for the public. Most are private.

This is our chance to incrementally improve beach access for the public in the state of Washington.

Public beach access is a health issue. It has been recently estimated that one-third of the nation is overweight.

Exercise is essential to correct that dire situation. I urge everyone to support this opportunity to acquire this wonderful public beach and uplands for walking, enjoying the view, meditation, peace and quiet.

Our Island County Commissioners are to be congratulated for approving a joint project with the land trust to secure rare public beach access into perpetuity wherever an opportunity presents itself.

The Glendale project is very much in alignment with the mission of Island Beach Access and its fiscal sponsor, Whidbey Island Land & Shore Trust.

Perhaps soon we will see signs welcoming kayakers to the island, as the Glendale Beach is posted with one of the slender, subtle Washington Water Trails signs bearing the logo for “Leave No Trace.”

Jane Seymour

President, Whidbey Island Land & Shore Trust

Treasurer, Island Beach Access